Author: Apple Hill Cottage

thirty biblical reasons to vote democratic in 2020: #18 Money

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“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” —Luke 14:28 (NIV)

The U.S. budget deficit hit $3 trillion in September of this year. That is $3,000,000,000,000. That is 12 zeroes of credit card debt.

Okay, I’m just going to admit here that the only class I ever failed in 17 1/2 years of schooling was Economics. (2nd term, freshman year of college…) But I do know that deficit spending is bad. And 3 Trillion Dollars is unfathomable…

Aren’t Republicans supposed to be conservative on spending?

Jesus continues the verse above with this: “For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish’.” Luke 14:29-30 (NIV)

So instead this fellow borrows money to finish the project? And then runs the project into the ground and is forced to declare bankruptcy  SIX bankruptcies. Who would think this fellow was a good businessman? Who would think this fellow is better at keeping your money safe than the other guy?

The U.S. is in a financial hole that will disable us for years, maybe forever?

And in case you don’t remember, this fellow promised (in 2016) to eliminate the national debt in 8 years. He’s got a long way to go. I’m not willing to give him four more years so he can have a seventh bankruptcy…

thirty biblical reasons to vote democratic in 2020: #17 Arrogance

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“Talk no more so very proudly; let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.” — 1 Samuel 2:3 (ESV)

I remember an early conversation with one of my sisters as I was considering the Christian life. I had made the comment that I didn’t think I was so bad. I’d lived a pretty decent life without too many terrible actions compared to a lot of other people i knew. And she gently told me the truth: we are not compared to other people; we are compared to Jesus — the sinless one who gave his life for us, so that we could have a life of relationship with the Holy God.

Those Old Testament people of God were always striving, always trying, always failing to be close to the Holy God of Israel. And it is by this Holy God that our actions are weighed, our thoughts are judged, our hearts are known according to their essential worth. That’s a scary thought because we can never be that holy perfection that God desires of us; we are sinful humans. Jesus died to provide that holiness for us. And yes, that means that there is no perfect human who could be president of the United States.

I don’t want someone who is perfect. I only want someone who is not proud or arrogant; someone who knows that his or her actions will be judged by the Holy God; someone humble enough to know that he or she does not have all the answers; someone who can admit they are wrong; a humble servant rather than an arrogant king.

This graphic comes from Square Quotes.

 

thirty biblical reasons to vote democratic in 2020: #16 Servant Leadership

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And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” — Mark 9:35 (ESV)

In yesterday’s post we discussed God’s requirements for earthly kings in the Old Testament. Mostly those kings failed miserably.

But God’s plan included providing a perfect king for his people: Jesus, the god-man, who would spend three years discipling his motley crew of twelve, and then become the sacrifice for all people. Through his sacrifice, grace has come, and we no longer have to be constantly worried about displeasing God.

But in that short span of three years Jesus showed and taught us how to live: as a servant — humble and concerned about our neighbors, friends, and enemies over ourselves. It is the hardest principle for our selfish selves to get right, yet it changes everything when we manage it.

Servant leadership! What a concept! That the leader is a servant to all, not lording it over everyone about his power. Jesus said, “You know that the rulers of the gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” — Matthew 20:25-26. (ESV)

Here is a direct quote from President Trump on April 13, 2020: “When somebody is president of the United States, the authority is total. And that’s the way it’s got to be. It’s total.”

If that doesn’t frighten you to death, what will?

A servant leader is humble, listens before speaking, and considers the good of all people, not just a few.

Don’t you yearn for that servant leader?